Of Fields & Forest

On this CD:

1. Sonatine for harp solo, Op 30
Composed by Marcel Tournier
Performed by Rita Costanzi

2. Vers la source dans le bois, for harp
Composed by Marcel Tournier
Performed by Rita Costanzi

3. Rhapsodie for Harp, Op 10
Composed by Marcel Grandjany
Performed by Rita Costanzi

4. The Minstrel's Adieu
Composed by John Thomas
Performed by Rita Costanzi

5. Sonata for harp
Composed by Paul Hindemith
Performed by Rita Costanzi

6. Sonatina for harp (first version)
Composed by Sergiu Natra
Performed by Rita Costanzi

7. Of Fields and Forests, for harp
Composed by Jean Coulthard
Performed by Rita Costanzi

8. Elegy for Solo Harp
Composed by Frederick Schipizky
Performed by Rita Costanzi

Tracks:

When We Dance
If You Love Somebody Set Them Free
Fields Of Gold
All This Time
Fortress Around Your Heart
Be Still My Beating Heart
They Dance Alone(Cueca Solo)
If I Ever Lose My Faith in You
Fragile
Why Should I Cry for You
Englishman in New York
We'll Be Together
Russians
This Cowboy Song

Amazon.com

A good overview of Sting's radio hits and popular album tracks with only one major omission ("Mad About You"), Fields of Gold also offers three previously-unreleased songs. "This Cowboy Song" and "When We Dance" appear on no other album, while "We'll Be Together" is an alternate version. The import version of this collection offers a substantially different (and expanded) track listing, dropping "Fortress Around Your Heart," "Be Still My Beating Heart," and "Why Should I Cry for You"; and adding "Mad About You," "Nothing 'Bout Me," "Seven Days," "It's Probably Me," "Love is the Seventh Wave," and "Demolition Man." --Gavin McNett

Customer Reviews:

Great songs, where's vol. 2?.......2007-04-12

Sting left the Police and had a tremendously successful solo career. Lots of great songs are on this cd, I just wish a couple more had made it like "It's Probably Me", "Shape of My Heart", "Love is the 7th Wave", "Seven Days" and "Soul Cages". The songs on here are great so I want to give it 5 stars but Sting has released so many more good songs and albums since this that we really need a volume 2 and soon. But as far as the period that this compilation covers, it is a fine way to pick up his best material from those albums.

Its OK.......2007-02-14

Bought it for Feilds Of Gold the only song on it I really like.

Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting.......2007-01-17

What can I say. If you like Sting and his many styles, then this is a must have!

Sting is a Hero!.......2006-12-08

Best Sting collection ever includes most hits like Fields of gold
A must have highly recommended!

misleading at best.......2006-11-06

It's simply not the best of Sting '84-'94.

The version of We'll Be Together (a great song) is an alternate take (mix?), VASTLY inferior to the album / radio version. It's anemic. Lacks the punch. In a word -- sucks.

That you're not told this on the cover is misleading.

I really enjoy Mr. Sumner's music. All the other tunes are as they should be, and they are terrific. 4-5 stars. But don't buy this product if you expect to hear what you've heard on the album or the radio.

Mozart for Mothers-To-Be: Tender Lullabies for Mother and Child

Average customer rating:

Wonderful
Great for putting kids to sleep!
Very Relaxing
A Must Have for all Parents of Little Children !!!
Inspire the baby-within

Mozart for Mothers-To-Be: Tender Lullabies for Mother and Child

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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More Mozart for Mothers-to-Be

ASIN: B0000041EV
Release Date: 1996-04-09

Tracks:

Divertimento In B-Flat (Adagio)
Cassation (Final-Musik) In G - Adgio
Divertimento In G Minor (Andante)
String Quartet No. 12 In B-Flat - Adagio
Divertimento In D, KV 131 - Adagio
'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik' - Romance (Andante)
Divertimento In D, KV 136 - Andante
Serenade In B-Flat 'Gran Partita' - Adagio
Prelude No. 3 In F
String Quartet No. 1 In B-Flat - Adagio
Violin Concerto In D - Andante cantabile
Divertimento In B-Flat - Adagio

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful.......2007-06-26

I bought this CD to listen to at work (I am 6 months pregnant). The quality is awesome and the choice of songs is perfect I can listen to it over and over.

Great for putting kids to sleep!.......2007-06-08

I absolutely love this CD! In fact this is our second one because we wore out the first since we played it so much. It is very soothing, and in fact we used it to help both our kids (now 4 and 18 mo) go to sleep since they were babies. I highly recommend it!

Very Relaxing.......2007-04-10

It is very soothing and really helps you relax. I enjoy listening to it in the car during my high stress commute.

A Must Have for all Parents of Little Children !!!.......2006-11-25

I bought this when my first baby was...well, a baby. That was 8 years ago. Now I am on my 4th copy of this cd (Mozart For Mothers to Be) and my 3rd child. Nothing works better. I'm on here to buy my 4th copy becasue I've worn them out over the years and have to keep replaceing them. My 8 and 3 year old still use it, and now the new baby, also. Make it part of your nightly bed time routine and you'll have good little sleepers in no time. I swear by it. It is very soothing, calming and not distracting so it won't drive you bonkers if you can hear it a little from the next room.

A truely great gift for new parents, or if you have a sleepless little one at home. Turn on the cd, turn down the lights and let it sooth them to sleep.

Inspire the baby-within.......2005-12-13

Beyond sheer musical appreciation and enjoyment, Mozart's music in general is ideal for gently stimulating the "creative centers" as well as instilling a sense well-being. While there is much academic disagreement about the extent or reality of the so-called "Mozart Effect," it doesn't take a genius to observe how Mozart's music puts most people (and probably babies-to-be) in a happy mood ready to take on the day's challenges. There is a simplicity - yet elegance and musical brilliance - in his music that is also well-suited for the youngest of children.

The selections on this CD are all excellent and represent a nice range of Mozart's compostions, emphasising those that are ideal for creating a pleasant backdrop for leisure, dining and social occasions ("divertimentos"). The recordings are from the creme of musicians famous for their Mozart. Few works are as elegant and soaring as the Serenade #10 for winds - an astonishingly beautiful tune made famous from the early scenes of the movie, "Amadeus." Mozart supreme gifts of music are even seen in such humble "background music" as these pieces. And such continuity of warm, leisurely tones as these over 70 minutes is ideal for inspiring the baby to-be if that is why you are considering this CD. Better to expose a baby to the gentile, lyrical music of Mozart than to the dissonant, loud and disturbing tones of some classical music written well after Mozart.

As the reviewer below rightfully notes, compilation CD's of various unrelated works like this one is not quite how classical music is best meant to be heard. But in a way it is better for many to start with such collections like this - especially for those who just want the more quiet selections that are unintrusive. In that respect, this collection can be satisfying for most anyone (not just moms or babies). I have a huge classical music collection, but still really enjoy listening to one full CD of similar-temperament music like this one that flows easily and smoothly that doesn't demand my attention but only seeks to delight. And, in the end, that was the simple and primary goal of many of Mozart's compositions - to be purely enjoyed and delighted.

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No. 1-4; Neville Marriner; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

Average customer rating:

The epitome of Baroque
Wonderful recording of this marvelous Bach's masterpiece
Best modern instrument performances in my opinion
Bach at his best
Easy to Enjoy

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No. 1-4; Neville Marriner; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Johann Sebastian Bach , Sir Neville Marriner , and Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio Espagnol; Russian Easter Overture

ASIN: B000239B7S
Release Date: 2004-07-13

Tracks:

I: (Allegro)
II: Adagio
III: Allegro
IV: Menuet & Trio
I: (Allegro)
II: Andante
III: Allegro Assai
I: Allegro
II: Adagio (By George Malcolm)
III: Allegro
I: Allegro - Iona Brown
II: Andante
III: Presto

Customer Reviews:

The epitome of Baroque.......2007-06-26

I'm trying to decide how to rate this. I certainly enjoy this CD and listen to it quite often (especially during study sessions), but on the other hand, I can't help but feel that a person needs a certain level of understanding and respect for Baroque music to appreciate this CD.

Yes, you've got the infamous 3rd Brandenburg Concerto, and yes, this CD is played wonderfully. It's true that this is a fabulous bargain, but to really love it, a person needs to love Bach and Baroque music. I simply like this CD. I find it a purely enjoyable listen (and personally think that some of the other Brandenburg Concertos are better than no. 3, just saying) that I come back to quite often.

Really, the great playing and wonderful bargain scream "BUY ME". It's a friendly buy that is a great deal. You won't regret it, even if you find that the style isn't quite your favorite.

Recommended.

Wonderful recording of this marvelous Bach's masterpiece.......2007-06-12

I was very pleassed to hear this wonderfull recording of Neville Marriner of these marvelous Bach's masterpieces.

Best modern instrument performances in my opinion.......2007-03-26

I think with the Brandenbergs, the deciding factor on which set to buy is whether you prefer modern instruments or period instruments. There are probably more great period instrument recordings (Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert is my personal favorite) to choose from than modern instrument recordings, but I think this is the best available modern instrument recording. You pretty much cannot go wrong with anything by Marriner and the ASMF, but this is truly one of their better recordings and has been for a number of years. There may be others out there just as good, but I doubt if you will find any better.

Bach at his best.......2007-02-08

Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, like much of Bach's works, are very modern sounding pieces. That's what makes them so appealing. Although each movement is no more than a few minutes long, the melodies and form of each are well developed and gorgeous.

This recording is especially worth buying because Marriner and the Academy produce a well-balanced and well-played interpretation. The instruments are not period instruments, and I think that that adds to the overall flavor of this recording. Although Boston Baroque offer recordings using period pieces, they don't match the interpretive genius of Neville Marriner.

Overall, this disc is a great buy -- only a few dollars for some of my favorite pieces by Bach. Don't let the low price fool you into believing that that somehow is an indication of quality.

Easy to Enjoy.......2006-11-25

I am not a musician nor can I identify Bach's Brandenburg Concerto number one from number five. However, I am an avid listener and do enjoy classical music. I know how good the Academy of St Martin in the Fields is and what a great conductor Sir Neville Marriner is. Most of all, I can identify a real bargain when I see one and this CD qualifies as a great bargain.

Bach's concertos are relaxing and very enjoyable. The Academy performs under the sure hand of Sir Marriner at the highest level. Each CD is just over an hour, the sound is clear and as Gramophone says "these performances are easy to enjoy".

This review refers to both the CD for concertos Nos. 1-4 and the CD for concertos Nos. 5 & & with Orchestral Suite No. 1.

Out Of Africa: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack

Average customer rating:

Simply beautiful
CD has missing track
Disappointed
Worth Buying!
Great Album

Out Of Africa: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack

Manufacturer: Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002O4X
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Main Title (I Had A Farm In Africa)
I'm Better At Hello (Karen's Theme l)
Have You Got A Story For Me
Concerto For Clarinet and Orhestra
Safari
Karen's Journey - Siyawe (African Traditional)
Flight Over Africa
I Had A Compass From Denys (Karen's Theme II)
Alone On The Farm
Let The Rest Of The World Go By
If I Know A Song Of Africa (Karen's Theme III)
End Title (You Are Karen)

Amazon.com essential recording

The great irony of John Barry's Academy Award-winning score for Out of Africa (which also took the Oscar as Best Picture) is that it almost never was; director Sydney Pollack had originally envisioned the film with native African music, going as far as laying the indigenous score down as he was editing. But the weight of John Barry's arguments--not to mention his considerable track record and composing gifts--held sway, and the composer delivered on his intent: a lush, romantic masterpiece for the ages. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Simply beautiful.......2007-01-11

Out of Africa is a CD with beautiful music. When I listen to it, I imagine myself in the nature of Africa. You will enjoy it!

CD has missing track.......2006-12-03

John Barry's compositions are pleasantly sweeping. There's nothing wrong with this album, just not really enough to recommend it.

I was puzzled to learn that some time between my buying the LP record and the issuing of this CD, the track "The Music of Goodbye (love theme from Out of Africa)" was omitted. It's not that this song, sung by Melissa Manchester, is a must-have; it's more that it's sneaky to leave off tracks when you reissue a soundtrack in another format.

Disappointed.......2006-11-10

I absolutely love the music from Out of Africa, but I do not recommend this CD at all. The sound quality is so poor that I could only bear listening to it once.

Worth Buying!.......2006-11-06

Highly recommended for those who love instrumental music. A lot of beautiful flute, strings and some piano and harp. Very contemplative and hauntingly beautiful music.

Great Album.......2006-11-04

For me, one of the best music of last decade. Romantic, full of sense. Please give a listen at least

Essential Mozart: 32 Of His Greatest Masterpieces

Average customer rating:

Gorgeous music, bad quality cd.
Great music, low quality reproduction
A nice introduction
Mozart is the reference point for good classical music.
Mozart's music

Essential Mozart: 32 Of His Greatest Masterpieces

Manufacturer: Decca
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Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 1
Beethoven Collection: Symphonies Nos. 1-9, Complete Recording (Box Set)

ASIN: B00005A8JZ
Release Date: 2001-03-13

Tracks:

Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K525: Allegro - Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields
Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K467: Andante - Radu Lupu
Le nozze di Figaro: Voi che sapete - Cecilia Bartoli
Clarinet Quintet In A Major, K581: Largetto - Peter Schmidl
Ave verum Corpus, K618 - James Vivian
Vesperae solennes de confessore in C major: Laudate Dominum - Emma Kirkby
Concerto For Flute And Harp In C Major: Andantino - Lisa Beznosiuk
Le nozze di Figaro: Overture - London Philharmonic Orchestra
Cosi fan tutte: Trio: Soava sia il vento - Renee Fleming
Symphony No.39 in E-flat Major, K495: Andante con moto - Chicago Symphony
Horn Concerto: Rondo - Barry Tuckwell
Don Giovanni: Serenade Deh, vieni alla finestra - Bryn Terfel
Contredanse In C Major, K609 No.1 'Non piu andrai' - Vienna Mozart Ensemble
German Dance, K605 No.3 'Sleigh Ride' - Vienna Mozart Ensemble
Piano Concerto No.23 In A Major, K488: Adagio - Vladimir Ashkenazy
A Musical Joke, K522: Presto - Vienna Mozart Ensemble

Tracks:

Symphony No.40 In G Minor, K550: Molto allegro - Vienna Philharmonic
Piano Sonata No.16 In C Major: Allegro - Andras Schiff
The Magic Flute: Queen Of The Night: Der Holle Rache - Sumi Jo
Clarinet Concerto In A Major, K622: Adagio - Franklin Cohen
Don Giovanni: La ci darem la mano - Cecilia Bartoli
Serenade in Bb Major, K361: Adagio - London Wind Soloists
Der Vogelfanger bin ich ja - Hermann Prey
Le nozze di Figaro: Dove sono - Kiri Te Kanawa
Violin Concerto No.3 in G Major, K216: Adagio - Joshua Bell
Requiem, K626: Lacrimosa - Vienna Philharmonic
Litaniae de venerabili altaris sacramento: Dulcissimum convivium - Margaret Marshall
Piano Sonata No.11 In A Major, K331: Rondo alla turca - Andras Schiff
Don Giovanni: Champagne aria: Fin ch'chan dal vino - Bryn Terfel
Divertimento No.17 in D Major, K334: Minuet & trio - Vienna Mozart Ensemble
Exsultate, jubilat, K165: Alleluja - Leontyne Price
Symphony No.41 In C Major, K551 'Jupiter': Finale: Molto allegro - Vienna Philharmonic

Customer Reviews:

Gorgeous music, bad quality cd........2007-04-13

The music is Mozart's and is fantastic. The last piece on the first disc
stutters halfway through, and seizes up my system. I don't have time to return items to Amazon. On the positive side, most of the time Amazon provides quality products and service. I gave 3 stars because I love the music.

Great music, low quality reproduction.......2007-01-30

this is a great collection of his work... the only problem i have found so far is that my copy has irritating "clicks" over the recording.

A nice introduction.......2006-02-22

This is a good well rounded collection to dip you into the classical world of Mozart.

Mozart is the reference point for good classical music........2005-10-20

A good collection of his best work and I find it helps me focus when I'm writing or contempating life.

"We exposed these animals [rats] in utero and then sixty days after birth to different types of auditory stimulation and then we ran them in a spatial maze. And sure enough, the animals that were exposed to the Mozart completed the maze faster and with fewer errors. And now what we're doing is we're removing their brains so we can slice them and see neuro-anatomically precisely what has changed as a function of this exposure. So it may be that this intense exposure to the music is a type of enrichment that has similar effects on the spatial areas of the hippocampus of the brain." --Dr. Frances Rauscher

Dr. Frances Rausher sums up what I feel happening when I expose myself to this incredible composer (Mozart).

I have yet to grow tired of any of the tracks yet, but I will invest in more of his work soon.

Mozart's music.......2005-10-17

This is a review of Mozart's music, not the cd. Mozart is praised to the skies by all and sundry, including most musicians, including my father, who no doubt has his reasons. But my feeling about Mozart has always been that there is nothing in Mozart's music that is other than music. There is no logical impressionism, there are no events that seem to be transpiring as in, for example, Beethoven. Mozart is just music. Mozart is to music as pure mathematics is to science. It hints of nothing else and has no application. I find some of his music irritatingly trivial, for example, Eine Kleine Nachtmuzic. This is mechanical music that one can imagine being piped in by a totalitarian government that insists everyone be cheerful. If Disneyland was an eighteenth century totalitarian state, Mozart would be its Muzak. The populace would be awakened, like Chinese train passengers, at 6AM by the strains of some allegro. They would arise and busy themselves with their ablutions in a state of thoughtless cheer, never for one moment leaving the surface of things. That being said, the second movement of Mozart's clarinette concerto is the music that one will hear on going into heaven.

Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

cherry picking
Brendel and Marriner play Mozart at a bargain price
Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 1 Alfred Brendel
Mozart's great piano concertos, Vol 1 and Vol 2
great pianist, great price, bad track listing

Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Essential Mozart: 32 Of His Greatest Masterpieces

ASIN: B000004194
Release Date: 1994-04-12

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 19 In F, KV 459: Allegro Vivace
Piano Concerto No. 19 In F, KV 459: Allegretto
Piano Concerto No. 19 In F, KV 459: Allegro Assai
Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor, KV 466: Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor, KV 466: Romance
Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor, KV 466: Allegro Assai
Rondo In D, KV 382: Allegretto Grazioso
Rondo In D, KV 382: Adagio
Rondo In D, KV 382: Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 23 In A , KV 488: Allegro

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 23 In A, KV 488: Adagio
Piano Concerto No. 23 In A, KV 488: Allegro assai
Piano Concerto #21 In C, KV 467: Allegro
Piano Concerto #21 In C, KV 467: Andante
Piano Concerto #21 In C, KV 467: Allegro Vivace Assai
Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor, KV 491: Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor, KV 491: Larghetto
Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor, KV 491: Allegretto
Rondo In A, KV 386

Customer Reviews:

cherry picking.......2007-02-15

Pity Alfred Brendel, Neville Marriner, and the incomparable Academy of St Martin in the Fields having to play this luscious span of concertos from the sweet spot of Mozart's oeuvre.

If there is sweeter music in the universe, it must lie at the depths of the sea or some equally inaccessible place, far from eyes and ears that could compare it to Mozart's piano concertos no. 19-24.

Mozart's piano concerti, perhaps more than those of any other composer, shape the solo instrument's phrasing so that its entrances and exits vis-à-vis the orchestral score are nearly seamless. Brendel and his supporting cast perform this aspect of the music as well as can be done.

In the stellar Philips Classics 'Duo' series, this recording may well reign supreme. It's as good as it gets.

Brendel and Marriner play Mozart at a bargain price.......2006-08-18

Philip's two double-CD sets of Alfred Brendel and Neville Marriner performing a total of ten of Mozart's great piano concertos, plus two rondos for piano and orchestra, must rate as one of the best of many bargains available in their "2 for 1" series. The four CDs add up to close to five hours of music, most of it essential listening for anyone interested in Mozart, great piano music, and great concertos.

This first of the two sets contains four indisputable masterpieces. In the stormy D minor Concerto K. 466, Brendel springs a mild surprise by playing his own cadenzas rather than Beethoven's, the ones most often used. I must confess to preferring Beethoven's unstylish but dramatic and imaginative cadenza to the first movement, but otherwise the performance is beyond reproach. Brendel adds some discreet and entirely appropriate ornamentation to the many repetitions of the second movement's main theme. The Olympian C major K. 467, with its incomparably beautiful slow movement, also receives some much-needed decoration: here the cadenzas are by Radu Lupu and are a bit quirkier than necessary. Although the soloist's tone and phrasing in the wistful K. 488 are ravishing in the first two movements, the starker phrases of the F-sharp minor Adagio are better left undecorated--for once Brendel's practically unerring sense of propriety in added ornamentation goes slightly off. In my opinion the best of a superb set of performances is that of the C minor, K. 491: Brendel and Marriner catch every nuance of tragedy while never slighting the grace of the music--the problem of writing an appropriate first-movement cadenza, difficult since Mozart left none of his own, is brilliantly solved here by the soloist.

Although in a set billed as Mozart's "Great Piano Concertos" I might have opted, narrowly, for including K. 453 in G major over K. 459, it cannot be denied that all involved seem perfectly attuned to the quicksilver energy and unexpected contrapuntal intricacies of the F major work. The two additional rondo movements, one a lightweight replacement for the original finale of Mozart's very first original piano concerto, the other a possible alternate finale to his earlier A major Concerto K. 414, are a delightful bonus. Incidentally, although the splitting of K. 488 across two generously filled CDs is an annoyance, timing restrictions would not have permitted cramming three complete concertos onto one CD as another review suggests.

Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 1 Alfred Brendel.......2006-07-10

Nice interpretation of Mozart's piano concerto.

Mozart's great piano concertos, Vol 1 and Vol 2.......2006-07-10

We love Mozart. Especially his piano concertos. We purchased these volumes, because we wore out our cassette tapes.
Mozart piano concertos performed by Arthur Brendel and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, It does not get much better than that. 5 hours of music as a very reasonable price!

I even ordered a second set to give to a friend.

great pianist, great price, bad track listing.......2006-02-16

Alfred Brendel is one of the world's most famous pianists, but not for reasons that make Argerich, Paderewski, or Rubinstein famous. Brendel is an expert both artistically and technically but he is not given to highly individualistic interpretations that rattle purists and create controversy. In other words, Brendel is a highly reliable pianist. Like Murray Perahia, there are no let downs in his recorded performances. For this and the price, no one should pass up this 2 disc recording.

The only downside is the recording's track listing. Piano Concerto No. 23 is split: its first movement is in the first disc while its last two movements are in the second. Bewildering especially since the piano concertos are not sequenced chronologically. And the insert doesn't help. It does not explain the track arrangement (is it by the year of recording? by importance in Mozart's ouvre?). Nonetheless, there it is, Piano Concerto No. 23 separated into two cds. Why this has to be is difficult to understand. The first movement, allegro, is 11.04 minutes long; in the second disc, a one movement rondo, Rondo in A, KV 386, is 8.32 minutes long. Why wasn't this rondo placed in the first disc to allow a seamless playing of Piano Concerto No. 23?

This is annoying if your player does not support multiple disc playing. I bought this 2 cd set specifically for Piano Concerto No. 23, whose second movement I love. It is one of the most sublime of piano adagios, up there with the second movements of Chopin no. 1, Rachmaninoff no. 2, Shostakovich no. 2. And I bought it specifically for Brendel's performance with the ASMITF, conducted by Neville Marriner. Brendel really makes the piano weep here. His evocations of a human's cycle of grief and redemption make the performance definitive for Piano Concerto No. 23. If the split won't bother you, do yourself a favor and get a copy.

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No. 5 & 6/Orchestral Suite No. 1; Neville Marriner; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

Average customer rating:

Wonderful recording of these Bach's masterpieces
The best modern instrument performances I have heard
Easy to Enjoy
Rediscovery of some favorites

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No. 5 & 6/Orchestral Suite No. 1; Neville Marriner; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Johann Sebastian Bach , Sir Neville Marriner , and Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio Espagnol; Russian Easter Overture

ASIN: B000239B82
Release Date: 2004-07-13

Tracks:

I: Allegro - George Malcolm
II: Affettuoso - George Malcolm
III: Allegro - George Malcolm
I: Allegro - Stephen Shingles
II: Adagio Ma Non Tanto - Stephen Shingles
III: Allegro - Stephen Shingles
I: Ouverture
II: Courante
III: Gavotte I & II
IV: Forlane
V: Menuet I & II
VI: Bourree I & II
VII: Passepied I & II

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful recording of these Bach's masterpieces.......2007-06-08

Marvelows recording by Neville Marriner of these Bach's masterpieces. I was pleassed to hear this record

The best modern instrument performances I have heard.......2007-03-26

Easy to Enjoy.......2006-11-25

Rediscovery of some favorites.......2006-08-20

I had forgotten how delightful it is to hear these pieces in their entirety! Every now and then I'd hear excerpts on the radio, etc., but not the whole work. These are marvelous examples of the best J.S. Bach had to offer in a wonderful set of recordings by Sir Neville Mariner and the band.

Mozart: Requiem / McNair, Watkinson, Araiza, Lloyd; Marriner

Average customer rating:

Good mix of music
A Beautiful Mass
Mozart himself would have been proud if he heard this...
Excellent Performances
Review of Mozart: Requiem CD

Mozart: Requiem / McNair, Watkinson, Araiza, Lloyd; Marriner
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields , Sir Neville Marriner , Sylvia McNair , Carolyn Watkinson , Francisco Araiza , and Robert Lloyd
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Verdi: Requiem & Operatic Choruses

ASIN: B000004137
Release Date: 1991-04-05

Tracks:

Requiem, KV 626 In D Minor: I. Introitus: Requiem
Requiem, KV 626 In D Minor: II. Kyrie
Requiem, KV 626 In D Minor: III. Sequentia: Dies Irae
Requiem, KV 626 In D Minor: III. Sequentia: Tuba Mirum
Requiem, KV 626 In D Minor: III. Sequentia: Rex Tremendae
Requiem, KV 626 In D Minor: III. Sequentia: Recordare, Jesu pie
Requiem, KV 626 In D Minor: III. Sequentia: Confutatis Maledictis
Requiem, KV 626 In D Minor: III. Sequentia: Lacrimosa
Requiem, KV 626 In D Minor: IV. Offertorium: Domine Jesu
Requiem, KV 626 In D Minor: IV. Offertorium: Domine Hostias
Requiem, KV 626 In D Minor: V. Sanctus
Requiem, KV 626 In D Minor: VI. Benedictus
Requiem, KV 626 In D Minor: VII. Agnus Dei
Requiem, KV 626 In D Minor: VIII. Communio : Lux Aeterna

Amazon.com

This recording of the Süssmayr completion of Mozart's beloved Requiem remains one of the most interpretively faithful and musically satisfying versions in the catalog. Sir Neville Marriner, whose contribution to the soundtrack of the film Amadeus helped launch a worldwide Mozart revival, delivers Mozart's inspired music with a masterful command of style and substance. He's not trying to prove anything, but rather lets the music deliver its own profound and moving messages. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

Good mix of music.......2007-05-03

A friend saw this piece performed live in Europe and she says this is very close to the quality of that performance.

A Beautiful Mass.......2007-03-09

Mozart: Requiem / McNair, Watkinson, Araiza, Lloyd; Marriner
(Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) is a beautiful composition. I had not realized that a mass for the dead actually had up-tempo pieces. This work of Mozart is fascinating because he did not finish it before his death. It was completed by some of his students. Still Requiem is a composition I would recommend to avyone who loves classical music.

Mozart himself would have been proud if he heard this..........2007-01-06

...and I mean it. This is one of the few astonishing renditions of Mozart's Requiem. Franz Xaver Sussmayr's completion of his unfinished work still remains controversial, but I don't see why. It's as majestic & imaginative as Mozart's own classical style and it really fits perfectly from "Domine Jesu" to "Lux Aeterna". As for this performance, it's downright outstanding. The orchestra is top-notch, the soloists are flawless, and the choir is at its highest form. The tempi still may not be as what it was intended to be (conductors John Eliot Gardiner and Philippe Herreweghe must be the only people who gave the Requiem the actual "classical" atmosphere), but it's very close. All in all, one of the finest interpretations ever put on CD.

Excellent Performances.......2006-12-20

As always, deciding which particluar CD/Recordiong of my a musical piece of interest to buy was difficult. I am very happy I chose this one. Solid preformances which showcase the composer's brilliance. Of course I don't need to rate Mozart, we all know he is birlliant and his work is breathtaking.

Review of Mozart: Requiem CD.......2006-03-26

Arrived in excellent condition--brand new--arrived in a very timely manner. Excellent service.

Average customer rating:

"Ecce" Misses the Mark
Music of the Angels
Disappointing
Not the Beatles!
Ecce Cor Meum

Paul McCartney: Ecce Cor Meum

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Paul McCartney - The Space Within US
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ASIN: B000HC2NL0
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Tracks:

Spiritus
Gratia
Interlude (Lament)
Musica
Ecce Cor Meum

Amazon.com

Paul McCartney's new "classical" oratorio is called Ecce Cor Meum, which translates as "Behold My Heart." The idealistic texts, also by McCartney, are meditations on goodness, spirituality, peace, and love, and are well served by the pretty, Romantic melodies; the long choral and orchestral sections flow one into the next. The Interlude (composed after the death of his wife, Linda), with its lovely oboe solo, is simple and moving. The music builds throughout to an emotional climax and the entrance of the organ later in the work--beautifully played and handsomely recorded--is quite remarkable. This is a far more advanced work than 1991's Liverpool Oratorio: better orchestrated, more through-composed. No, it's not the last word in compositional sophistication, but it has many beautiful moments, and McCartney's legions of fans will need to own it. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

"Ecce" Misses the Mark.......2007-06-12

My old harmony teacher once remarked, "You can't throw away the rules unless you know which rules you're throwing away. Not surprisingliy, this is the case with "Ecce Cor Meum." When tunesmithing, most writing is done intuitively. In other words, the "how" of it comes from exposure to countless examples of popular/rock music. It's done by osmosis and most (but by no means all) pop tunes are tweaked into existence.

In the case of "serious" music, though, it is like any work of art. It is done by understanding the medium and understanding the progress of the art itself.

McCartney's attempt at a serious work falls short in most every respect. It is dull and colorless with occasional tender moments. An extended passage involving the oboe was particularly poignant. Otherwise the repetitiveness of the work makes for rather difficult sustained listening.

In his program notes, the composer seemed to think that lack of formal training in music, even with notation, was an asset rather than a liability. We beg to differ. The understanding of the dynamics of harmony, rhythm and melody in the course of a large work is as important to the composer as color and its use is to a painter.

Having to write 40-45 minutes of orchestral and choral music is a whole lot different than 32 bars of, say, "Michelle" or "Will You Still Love Me When I'm 64?" (Which of course we always will, Paul!)

Even a master composer like George Gershwin was limited, albeit much more successful, in his attempts at larger works. That said, there is hope of McCartney. I'd like to see more from his pen.

Music of the Angels.......2007-02-25

Paul did an excellent job on this beautiful music and I do not say that because I am a fan. I love classical music, I put classical on to calm my nerves or to bring myself closer to the powers that be. This is excellent stuff. I will listen to this CD the rest of my life. I only have about 5 of those lifetime titles, this is one of them.

Disappointing.......2007-02-08

When I was in my teens, I couldn't get enough McCartney. With truly memorable 5-minute songs he was in his element. Having said that, it took a lot of effort to listen to the entire Ecce cor Meum. McCartney does not have the discipline or know-how that it takes to write a larger work. It is fragmented, repetitive, and unremarkable, and he is clearly out of his depth with it. Now that he's been there, done that, it's time to return to the work for which he is justly famous.

Not the Beatles!.......2007-01-16

Classical with a twist. Listen with an open mind and open ears. Interesting...you have to admire the craftsmanship of this piece. Very well done.

Ecce Cor Meum.......2007-01-12

Ecce Cor Meum is latin for "Behold my Heart". McCarthey has poured his spiritual philosophy and his heart into this music. He has stepped beyond the "short story" of the classic "Beatles" to the "novel" of an hour long creation. A classical orchestra, incredible soprano, and my favorite- a British Boys Choir, make this music that will inspire all. You will hear the clear beckoning of a lone trumpet, the melancholy of an oboe, the boom of drums, and the lilting melody of violins. It is music that gets better each time you listen.

Average customer rating:

Irish at it's best.
Irish Magic
Just got your Kleenex
Wonderful!
The Very Best of the Irish Tenors is just that!

The Very Best of The Irish Tenors
The Irish Tenors
Manufacturer: Music Matters
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Irish Tenors / McNamara, McDermott, Kearns, Tynan
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ASIN: B000069JJ6
Release Date: 2007-01-08

Tracks:

Toora Loora Looral
Will Ye Go Lassie Go
Spanish Lady
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
Percy French Medley: Phil The Fluther's Ball, Come Back Paddy Reilly, The Lay Of The West Clare Reailway, Are Ye Right There Michael?
Amazing Grace
Nearer My God To Thee
Danny Boy
Fields of Athenry
Only The River Runs Free
Molly Malone
Last Rose of Summer
She Moved Through the Fair
Maggie
New Medley (combination of the 2 medleys

Product Description

1. Toora Loora Looral
2. Will Ye Go Lassie Go
3. Spanish Lady
4. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
5. Percy French Medley: Phil The Fluther's Ball, Come Back Paddy Reilly, The Lay Of The West Clare Railway - Are Ye Right There Michael?
6. Amazing Grace
7. Nearer My God To Thee
8. Danny Boy
9. Fields Of Athenry
10. Only The River Runs Free
11. Molly Malone
12. Last Rose Of Summer
13. She Moved Through The Fair
14. Maggie
15. New Medley (Combination of the 2 medleys)

Format: CD

Amazon.com

In the short time since they grouped together a few years ago to form their sensationally successful trio, the Irish Tenors have already put out an impressive array of recordings and DVDs, including some bona fide gooseflesh-inducing live concert performances. So, if you still have the enviable pleasure of discovering these amazing vocalists--or want to turn a friend on to their musical charms--this compilation CD will do the trick nicely. It brings together such classics as "Danny Boy," "Toora Loora Looral," "Last Rose of Summer," and "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" (featuring John McDermott)--all rendered with the kind of passionate, heartfelt, and harmonious crooning that is their signature style, whether they're singing as an ensemble or as highlighted soloists. And even if you have the complete Irish Tenors, this anthology includes several numbers not found on their previously released CDs. Hard to think of a sweeter treat for a fan of singing too good to ever go out of fashion. --Sarah Chin

Customer Reviews:

Irish at it's best........2007-05-07

This album is really the number two album from this trio. It is very good and well worth the investment. The five star album by The Irish Tenors would have to be Heritage. Both albums rate high in my book.

Irish Magic.......2006-08-21

This is my first CD of the Irish Tenors. And what a joy! I played it as soon as it arrived. I like the blend of their voices,the passion and enthusiasm they bring to this CD. What I find is a real treat is the words to all the songs are in the booklet.I love this CD.

Just got your Kleenex.......2005-12-25

I suggest a box of Kleenex for each person in the room when you play this CD or VHS recording. Mom won't let me play it anymore because she...well, you know what I mean.

Wonderful!.......2005-12-12

When it's cold and frightful here, I play The BOYZ!

So wonderful. So much fun.

Up here in backwash Maine, there ain't much, believe me. But these guys are great. Sincere, care about what they're doing, true artists.

Ah, to go to Ireland again. Well, not unless the price of natural gas recedes!

The Very Best of the Irish Tenors is just that!.......2005-01-22

This recording is wonderful. Ronan's "last Rose of summer" is unique, the Percy French medley shows all three in great voice, Finbar's Maggie is wonderful and the laurels have to go to Anthony for his magnificent rendition of "She moved through the fair", wow!!!!

Well worth buying.

Isaac Chute

Music Review:

Music Review

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